SEGUIN, Texas (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University baseball team was limited to five hits and dropped a 6-0 decision to Texas Lutheran University on March 8 at Katt-Isbel Field on day two of its 2020 spring trip.
Texas Lutheran, receiving votes in the D3baseball.com and two years removed from being the 2018 NCAA Division III World Series national runner-up, improved to 8-4 sweeping the two-day series from NJCU (0-6). NJCU was limited to nine hits in the two-game series.
The Bulldogs scored three in the bottom of the first inning and its pitching did the rest as sophomore right-handed pitcher Joe Burch (Geronimo, Texas) shutout NJCU through the first six innings for the win (1-1), striking out six (no walks) against three hits while facing 22 batters. Junior righties Chase Cutler (Georgetown, Texas) and Zach Perry (Round Rock, Texas) combined for three innings to complete the shutout.
The Bulldogs only had eight hits but drew six other walks. Junior center fielder Cullen Motsinger (Houston, Texas) led the Bulldogs, going 3-for-4 with two runs and a double while senior second baseman Austin Colon (La Grange, Texas) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Senior catcher Spencer Brandt (Yoakum, Texas) knocked in a pair of runs with two flies. Junior designated hitter Cole Irby (Buda, Texas) was 2-for-5 while junior left fielder Caleb Maly (Pearland, Texas) walked three times.
NJCU could only muster two hits through the first five innings. Freshman Joe Valentine, who entered as a pinch hitter and stayed in to catch, batted 2-for-2. Freshman righty Aaron Ayers, the second of six pitchers used, went 4.2 innings in relief, allowing one run and three hits with two K's (four walks).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the bottom of the first inning, TLU scored three runs on just one hit. After a walk and hit batter put two men on, a wind-blown pop fly single to left fell in to load the bases. A groundout to first erased the lead runner at the plate but freshman starter Jonathan Taylor (0-1) fell behind the next batter, 2-0. NJCU made a pitching change, bringing in Ayers. The inherited batter walked and then a wild pitch made it 2-0. A sac fly by Brandt made it 3-0.
- In the second, Motsinger beat out a ground ball to shortstop for a leadoff single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Colon for a 4-0 lead.
- NJCU's pitchers quieted the TLU bats in the third, fourth and fifth inning.
- Freshman right fielder Justin Wiltsey had a standup double to the right-center gap with one out in the sixth and senior designated hitter Bill Feehan reached when a liner to third couldn't be caught. A groundout moved both runners into scoring position before Burch got a strikeout to end the threat.
- With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Motsinger doubled to right center and after a walk, Colon singled through the left side to give the Bulldogs their first run sixth the second inning (5-0).
- NJCU stranded two runners in the top of the seventh and the Bulldogs added an unearned run in the bottom of the inning for a 6-0 lead.
UP NEXT:
- The trip shifts to San Antonio for days three and four. On Monday, March 10, NJCU plays two different opponents on the campus of Trinity University. The Knights meet Howard Payne University at 1 p.m. followed by a really difficult matchup against No. 4 ranked Trinity at 8 p.m.
- Live Stats:
-
- vs. Howard Payne: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=312367
- at Trinity: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=296691
- Video:
-
- vs. Howard Payne: https://trinitytigers.com/sports/bsb/2019-20/live/200309_HPU_NJC
- at Trinity: https://trinitytigers.com/sports/bsb/2019-20/live/200309_NJC
GOTHIC KNIGHTS on SOCIAL MEDIA:
For the latest on NJCU baseball and #NJCUBB, follow the Gothic Knights on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and SnapChat. We Are Jersey City's Team.
—www.NJCUGothicKnights.com | #JerseyCitysTeam—